Blow-Up

"What did you see in that park?" Ron

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece 


Blow-Up (1966) is a stylish and visually ravishing look at the enigma of reality versus illusion.


Directed By Michelangelo Antonioni.


Starring David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Veruschka and Jane Birkin.


Michelangelo revisits his recurring theme of reality/illusion that he started with L'Avventura (1960).
Antonioni spent his entire career asking, where does reality or illusion begin or end. The plot for Blow-Up was inspired by a short story called, "Las babas del diablo" or  "The Devil's Drool" (1959) by Julio Cortázar. The translated short story was renamed Blow-Up or Blow-Up and Other Stories. The photographer that David played was inspired by the life of London fashion photographer David Bailey.  Herbie Hancock did the score for the film and called the music Diegetic, and said, "It's only there when someone turns on the radio or puts on a record."

What really struck me as I watched Blow-Up was the scene below where David's character is lost in the "Process" of his photographic art. As an actor I get, so lost in my artistic Process that I forget to eat, sleep, drink, sex, etc... There is no sound, dialogue or music in the clip below yet Michelangelo guides us through David photographic Process to gradually see what he begins to see in the series of photos he took. Its like being in a detectives investigative process as he gradually uncovers the story hidden within the photos.

Film Scene

Trivia - Michelangelo Antonioni had the grass in Maryon Park sprayed green so he could re-shoot the scene the way he wanted it to look.

Film Trailer

Film Photos - Posters

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Film Script

Note - If you would like to view Blow-Up  to rent or buy please click on the link below the comments. It is sponsored by Google, so it is the safest and most secure way to get a copy for your film library.

Anonymous

"You are the soul of the age ... Undeniable perfection that plagued my soul." Ben

☆☆☆☆☆ Classic

Anonymous (2011) is a masterfully told tale that like William Shakespeare enthralls with historical inaccuracy.

Directed by Roland Emmerich.

Starring Rhys Ifan, Vanessa Redgrave, Sebastian Armesto, Mark Ryland among many others.

I've got to hand it to Roland Emmerich. The man knows how to make an engaging and entertaining film. Like Shakespeare himself, he rewrites history to enthrall his audience. Rolands' re-imagining of who Shakespeare was, reminds me of Alfonso Cuaron's film, Great Expectations (1998). Alfonso reinterpreted Charles Dickens classic story for film. If you had never read or heard of William Shakespeare, John Orloff's screen play would have you walk out of Anonymous thinking that William Shakespeare was the Village Idiot.

Rhys Ifans is superb as The Earl of Oxford. Rhys usually has me laughing hysterically in his films. This time Rhys had me completely quiet and contemplative. I love when a comedic actor can change gears from comedy to drama.

Rafe Spall is superb as an evil, ruthless and illiterate Shakespeare. Rafe's eyes look like he really is relishing playing the village idiot and not the greatest playwright in history. The guy must have the darkest sense of humor in film acting. Well, I guess Shakespeare had it coming for making Richard III, so vile and dark.

Vanessa Redgrave chews not only the curtains, but the furniture and every scene partner she is in a scene with. She is having the time of her life with this role and and as an audience member I thoroughly enjoyed her over the top performance.

The scene below is with Mark Ryland, who does a jaw dropping vocal performance of Richard III. Mark has a highly trained vocal instrument that is put to spellbinding use in the film. When in Hamlet, Shakespeare writes, "Speak the speech I pray you as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness".

Listen to the timber and resonance in Mark's voice. No dramatic vocal flurries throughout his opening monologue for Richard III. Mark hardly moves across the small stage, but watch how his audience is moved just by his voice. Mark is following Shakespeare's acting directions of speaking, "trippingly on the tongue".  
I love the way Roland cuts into other scenes during the monologue, but keeps the dialogue from the speech in his cut aways. Gives the entire monologue and scene an added depth and intrigue, which Shakespeare's monologue alludes to. 

As for who was Shakespeare? To me Shakespeare, was above all a passionate artistic human being who lived, breathed, ate, slept and fornicated acting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When you commit yourself to perfect only one endeavor every moment of your life you will achieve it and live forever. 

Film Scene

Trivia - Roland Emmerich self financed the entire $30 million budget of Anonymous.

Film Trailer